Poultry, Goat, Sheep and Other Livestock Rearing
Domain 10: Poultry, Goat, Sheep and Other Livestock Rearing
This domain tests the management of small livestock: brooding, feeding, housing and health. Expect questions on broiler and layer systems, goat and sheep breeding, and the use of local breeds.
Poultry
- Brooding: chicks need about 32 to 35 degrees Celsius in the first week, reduced by 2 to 3 degrees each week; observe chick distribution to judge comfort.
- Broiler production targets fast weight gain and a low feed conversion ratio, calculated as feed consumed divided by weight gain. Layer production targets eggs, with first egg usually at 18 to 20 weeks.
- Vaccination: Marek's at day-old and Ranikhet disease according to schedule; strict biosecurity.
- Indigenous and improved birds: Kadaknath, Aseel, Giriraj and Vanaraja.
Goats and sheep
- Goats: Osmanabadi is a Maharashtra dual-purpose breed; gestation about 150 days; housing must be dry and draft-free.
- Sheep: Deccani is a local meat-and-wool breed; gestation about 147 days; shearing, dipping and deworming are routine.
- Both need clean water, mineral supplementation and controlled grazing to avoid parasite load.
Worked example
A broiler batch consumes 200 kg feed and gains 100 kg live weight. Feed conversion ratio = 200 divided by 100 = 2.0. Reason: a lower ratio means better feed efficiency. If another batch has a ratio of 2.3, the first batch is more efficient, but compare mortality and final weight before declaring it more profitable.
Traps
Using layer feed for broilers; judging brooding temperature only by the thermometer and not chick behaviour; and confusing goat and sheep gestation lengths.